Ex-Eastwood High School teacher arrested in student-sex case

A former Eastwood High School gymnastics coach wanted by law enforcement for allegedly having an improper relationship with a student was arrested Thursday morning.

Police said Christopher Miranda, 24, was arrested at his home on the 1300 block of Adabel Drive by members of the El Paso County Sheriff's Office and U.S. Marshals Service Lone Star Fugitive Task Force.

His lawyer, Jaime Olivas, said Miranda had planned to turn himself in later Thursday.

Miranda was booked into El Paso County Jail on suspicion of three counts of improper relationship between an educator and a student and two counts of sexual assault of a child. Both are second-degree felonies.

The Sheriff's Office had featured Miranda in this week's Manhunt Monday.

REPORTER

Aaron Bracamontes

Miranda taught a business, career and technology class and was also a gymnastics coach at the East Side school, said Patricia Ayala, spokeswoman for the Ysleta Independent School District.

Eastwood is one of only three high schools in El Paso with a gymnastics team.

"Immediately upon receiving information of a teacher having an alleged inappropriate relationship with a student, an inquiry was initiated," Ayala said in a news release. "Consequently, the employee was immediately placed on administrative leave and the El Paso Police Department and Child Protective Services were immediately notified."

Miranda resigned from the district last week, Ayala said.

Neither police nor district officials have said when the alleged incidents happened.

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Police said they believe there may be more victims. Anyone with information should call the Crimes Against Children unit at 838-0049 or 832-4400.

Aaron Bracamontes may be reached at abracamontes@elpasotimes.com; 546-6156. Follow him on Twitter @AaronBrac. Times reporter Adriana Chávez contributed to this report.